Above is a famous Russian war-time painting of the “Story-Teller” mocking the “Fritzes” (German soldiers). There was always one in each unit who kept the spirits of the troops up.

LIBERATION CAMPAIGN MEDALS

Prague

Belgrade

Warsaw

CAPTURE CAMPAIGN MEDALS

Budapest

Koenigsberg

Vienna

Berlin

VICTORY MEDALS

Germany

Japan

OUTSTANDING GUARDING OF THE STATE BORDER

VALIANT LABOR

Outstanding Guarding of the State Border is made of silver and is one of a very few Soviet medals that came with its own designated award book. However, this medal is not numbered. The text on the reverse of the medal reads: “For Outstanding Guarding of the State Borders USSR”. The medal was first issued in 1950. This particular medal was issued in 1951.

Russian naval memorial near Narva, Estonia. The monument had been repaired after vandals had cowardly sneaked in the dead of night in an attempt to destroy it. Often, young Russian boys and girls would stand guard to prevent such wanton destruction of their monuments. The people who commit these despicable acts are too cowardly to protest these monuments publicly. Their behavior is dangerous for Estonia because it fuels anti-Estonian anger, and presents a negative image of Estonia to the world which she can not afford.

The hard feeling between the local Estonian population and the Russian residents will take generations to abate. The Soviet postwar policy for Estonia was to import thousands of Russians into the country, jeopardizing the country’s social bonds and national identity. These non-Estonian currently make up about 30% of the population and this has led to friction with the local population. A small country like Estonia does not have the luxury of experimenting with “integration” of masses of foreigners. Of course, the Russians don’t consider themselves “foreigners” and are demanding that the Estonians recognize them as legitimate residents of the country - this is the crux of the social problem in Estonia which will have to be solved if Estonia is to survive.

Common grave of Russian soldiers who died during the fight to drive the Germans out of Estonia in 1944. The relatives of these solders are fortunate to know where they are buried. Unknown number of Soviet soldiers simply were buried nameless in mass common graves.

“Here are buried”

Names of eleven Russian officers and soldiers who died fighting the Germans in Estonia in 1944.

Estonia has numerous grave sites and monuments to Estonians, Germans and Russians who died during the war.

GRAVES AND MONUMENTS OF RUSSIAN WW II DEAD IN ESTONIA

“In the Forest at the Front” , Russian Army Chorus. A song about comrades.

Each of the medals came with such a document. This one above is for Warsaw.